That characterization was based on interviews with the Egyptian-Americans, as well as on past incidents of sectarian violence in Egypt, including riots in January 2000 sparked by an argument between a Muslim customer and a Christian shopkeeper that led to the deaths of about 20 people, nearly all Christian.

Coptic Christians maintain that they continue to suffer discrimination and persecution by the Muslim majority in Egypt. But while the two groups have a long history of conflict, and clashes still erupt now and then, relations have been generally peaceful in the last few years.